Compare towns
Malden vs Maynard vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Malden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Maynard has the most homeowners (75%).
Waltham has the shortest commute (25 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Malden | Maynard | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 65,906Highest |
10,712Lowest |
64,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±1 11% below MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Malden and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6kLowest 3% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$120,216±$7k 16% above MA |
| Maynard and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62 25% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
| Waltham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,995 17% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Malden and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Waltham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #184 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Maynard | Waltham |
| High school in town | Malden High | Maynard High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.